SeaWolves Will Stay In Erie Through 2020

The Erie SeaWolves, the Detroit Tigers’ Double-A affiliate, announced on Tuesday a new agreement to keep the team in Erie through the 2020 season. The team has been in Erie since 1995, and has been affiliated with the Tigers since 2001.

The SeaWolves were a short-season New York-Penn League affiliate of the Pirates from their inception, when they moved to the Eastern League and were the Angels’ Double-A affiliate for the next two seasons until they hooked on with the Tigers.

And while the Tigers and Western Pennsylvania will continue their association for the next five seasons, not everything will stay the same. The SeaWolves are seeking a buyer for the stadium’s naming rights. Until a naming rights partner is secured, the ballpark will continue to be identified as Jerry Uht Park. Once the new name is secured, the SeaWolves will honor Uht’s contributions by naming the space located between the ballpark and French Street as Jerry Uht Park.

Fernando Aguirre, the team’s owner and CEO, spoke about the deal at a press conference on Tuesday.

“One of the chief goals I set forth when purchasing the SeaWolves was to obtain a long-term, viable lease that keeps the team and high-quality Double-A baseball in Erie,” Aguirre said. “Today’s announcement affirms our commitment to the Erie community and we look forward to offering affordable, family entertainment for many years to come.”

With Erie’s move, there’s one fewer team to worry about come next year’s open affiliation period. Teams with Player Development Contracts set to expire after this season include: Richmond (Giants), New Hampshire (Blue Jays) and Akron (Indians).